Why Do We Get Excessive Hair Growth?

In general, society has moved towards the trend of smoother bodies with less body hair as it’s deemed more attractive than if we were to leave it be, especially for women. We spend hours and hours plucking, shaving, waxing, and more – just for it to grow back in no time and for the entire process to start again.

Excessive hair growth is a battle we just can’t seem to win and it affects some of us much more than others. Excessive hair growth affects a bulk of the population, more than you might think, and is a cause of embarrassment for many people. It can knock your self-confidence and have a negative impact on your mental health, but why exactly does it happen?

Hair growth due to hormones

Obviously, it’s natural that we grow a lot of our body hair during puberty, but excessive hair growth can also be linked to pregnancy and menopause, or excessive hormones produced by the ovary or adrenal glands, for example. One way to better understand your hair growth is to determine how long the problem has persisted for, so that you can narrow down the possible causes.

Does ethnicity affect excessive hair growth?

The type and amount of hair you produce may simply boil down to genetics and ethnicity. You might inherit similar hair growth tendencies as your parents, and certain ethnicities tend to present specific attributes. For example, we’ve found that a lot of Asian women come to us seeking professional help with fine, yet dense facial hair around their jaw, neck, chin and upper lip.

PCOS and Hirsutism

Other contributing factors might include stress, medicinal side effects and other health concerns, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects approximately 2% to 7% of women in the general population. (Source: Schmidt and Shinkai, 2015).

One specific condition that affects an abundance of women, particularly, is Hirsutism. This is the long-term excessive growth of thick, dark hair in certain areas of the body, including the face, chest, back and thighs. It’s caused by an excess of the male hormone, androgen, or by an oversensitivity to these hormones. The exact reason why this happens is unknown, but a link is often made to PCOS.

Laser Hair Removal

Don’t worry if you’re suffering with unwanted or excessive hair. What matters is that we can help here at Health & Aesthetic Clinic with our advanced elos Plus laser hair removal treatment. Suitable for all hair and skin types, this gentle DIODE laser from Syneron Candela eliminates the need for time-consuming home hair removal, with long-lasting results. It works through intense bursts of laser energy which destroy hair follicles at the root, preventing regrowth.

For further information, check out our laser hair removal page right here on the H&A website, or get in touch today to book your consultation!

The Health & Aesthetic Clinic is officially named in the Top 7 Clinics in London, and has been shortlisted as a finalist for Best Clinic in London at the Aesthetic Awards 2017.